Ahead of Coming of Age Day on the 11th, the city held a “Twentieth-Year Commemorative Ceremony” (formerly known as…). This year too, young people dressed in “flamboyant” attire gathered around the venue to celebrate their new beginning.
Wearing a black haori and hakama with a silver pattern, a 19-year-old attendee said, “This (flamboyant attire) is the formal wear of Kitakyushu. It’s a culture I want to preserve.”
According to a rental costume shop in the city that handles these outfits, “subdued-flamboyant” styles in black or silver tones are popular this year.
However, seeing posts on social media and wanting to “surpass past seniors” leads to many “requests,” and there is no doubt the outfits are becoming more extravagant year by year.
Until about ten years ago, it was common for groups of several dozen people to wear hakama in unified colors and designs, but recently, cases of individuals wearing what they personally want have increased.
A representative stated, “It has become a form of self-expression—wearing what you want to wear—rather than just because everyone else is wearing it.”
Regarding the “flamboyant attire,” the city had previously called for attendees to wear “proper clothing.”
On the other hand, in recent years, works from the shop have been invited to a fashion show in New York, USA, and gained popularity with customers. The city has also announced a policy to utilize it as a cultural content.
At the ceremony, Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi described the twenty-year-olds as “incredibly cool people.” He addressed them, saying, “A chain of nothing but negation creates nothing. Please make your own lives the correct answer.”
Coming of Age Day
“Coming of Age Day” is a Japanese national holiday held annually on the second Monday of January. It celebrates and honors all those who have turned 20 years old in the past year, marking their official transition into adulthood with legal rights and responsibilities. The tradition has roots in an ancient aristocratic ceremony called *genpuku* and was established in its modern form as a national holiday in 1948.
Twentieth-Year Commemorative Ceremony
The “Twentieth-Year Commemorative Ceremony” is not a specific permanent place or cultural site, but rather a type of commemorative event. These ceremonies are typically held to mark the 20th anniversary of significant historical events, such as national tragedies or the end of conflicts. For example, many countries have held such ceremonies to remember victims of wars or terrorist attacks two decades prior, serving as a moment for collective reflection and remembrance.
Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu is a major industrial city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, formed in 1963 through the merger of five smaller cities (Kokura, Moji, Yahata, Tobata, and Wakamatsu). Historically, it was a key center for Japan’s modern iron and steel industry, with the Yahata Steel Works established there in 1901. Today, it is also known for its environmental revitalization efforts and cultural sites like Kokura Castle.
hakama
“Hakama” are traditional Japanese trousers, historically worn by samurai and nobility from the Heian period (794-1185) onward to protect the legs while riding horses. Today, they are most commonly seen as formal attire in martial arts like kendo and aikido, as well as during graduation ceremonies and Shinto rituals. Their pleats and specific tying methods carry symbolic meaning, representing virtues like loyalty and honor.
haori
A haori is a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket, historically worn over a kimono by samurai for warmth and as a formal layer. It evolved from a practical garment into a widespread item of formal and everyday wear during the Edo period (1603–1868), with specific colors and family crests (mon) indicating social status and clan affiliation. Today, it remains an essential component of traditional attire for both men and women at ceremonies, weddings, and other formal occasions.
New York
New York City, originally founded as New Amsterdam by Dutch colonists in 1624, grew into a major colonial port before becoming the first capital of the United States. It transformed into a global economic and cultural hub in the 19th and 20th centuries, symbolized by landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and its iconic skyline. Today, it remains one of the world’s most influential cities, renowned for its finance, arts, and diversity.
fashion show
“Fashion show” typically refers to a live event where designers present their latest clothing collections on models. Its modern format, with a defined runway and scheduled presentations, emerged in the mid-19th century, pioneered by designers like Charles Frederick Worth in Paris. Today, major fashion weeks in cities like New York, Milan, Paris, and London are central to the global fashion industry’s calendar and culture.
Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi
“Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi” is not a place or cultural site, but a person—the former mayor of the city of Nagareyama in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, who served from 2005 to 2021. Therefore, it does not have a physical history as a location, but his tenure is noted for initiatives in urban development and disaster prevention in his city.
